MARKING 101 YEARS SINCE THE UNVEILING OF THE MONUMENT TO KING PETER I

MRKONJIĆ GRAD, DECEMBER 12 /SRNA/ - In Mrkonjić Grad today, the 101st anniversary of the erection of the Monument to King Peter I Karađorđević in this municipality was marked, with a memorial service held and flowers laid.

President of the Municipal Assembly Stevica Eremija announced that a Karađorđević memorial room will soon be opened at the premises of the Petar Kočić Cultural and Sports Center, where an electronic version of the King's war diary will be displayed, along with a replica of his ceremonial uniform, a copy of his most famous portrait, as well as other items and letters.

He stated that the project holder for arranging the memorial room is the Mrkonjić Grad National Library, while the project will be financed by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Republika Srpska, the Ministry of Culture of Serbia, and the municipality.

Eremija told reporters that a new monument to King Peter I Karađorđević will also be erected in the coming period, replacing the existing one built in 1996, as visible damage has already appeared on it.

He noted that the municipality has again this year organized the commemoration marking the erection of the first monument to King Peter I Karađorđević.

The monument to King Peter I Karađorđević was erected on December 14, 1924, and was unveiled by the King's envoy, Duke Janko Vukotić.

The monument was demolished twice - the first time in 1941 by the Ustasha, with the assistance of the Germans. It was restored in 1990, only to be demolished again on October 10, 1995, by members of the Croatian Armed Forces and the HVO during the occupation of Mrkonjić Grad.

It was once again erected and restored in 1996, following the return of the population from exile.

King Peter I Karađorđević fought in this area as part of the national liberation movement of the Serbs from Ottoman rule. The grateful people of Mrkonjić Grad erected the monument in his honor as a sign of remembrance of his participation in the uprising.